Rawat government withdraws Sting CD case

The Uttarakhand government has decided to withdraw the notification recommending a CBI probe into the sting operation episode involving Chief Minister Harish Rawat.

State Chief Secretary Shatrughna Singh told reporters in Dehradun that the state cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh yesterday, decided to withdraw the notification.

The notification recommending CBI probe into the sting CD was issued on April 2 when the state was under President’s Rule. The CD purportedly showed Rawat negotiating a deal to buy support of rebel Congress MLAs. Singh said the state cabinet also gave its nod to constitute an SIT to probe the case.

Reacting sharply to the decision, state BJP president Ajay Bhatt said it was yet another testimony to Rawat’s guilt. He said, it shows he is shying away from a CBI probe as he is afraid of being caught. He said, the CD contains enough evidence of Mr Rawat’s involvement.